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Transitioning To A Circular Economy Through Chemical and Waste Management

Chemicals are an essential part of modern society with positive impacts on employment, economic growth, health, environment and the climate. However, if they are not managed properly, they can adversely affect human health and the environment.

Chemicals are an essential part of modern society with positive impacts on employment, economic growth, health, environment and the climate. However, if they are not managed properly, they can adversely affect human health and the environment.

Nearly 140,000 industrial chemicals are marketed worldwide, meaning that hazardous chemicals, products containing them, their hazardous wastes and related pollutants continue to be released and disposed of in ever-larger quantities (UNEP, 2019a).

Since 2000, the global production capacity of the chemical industry has almost doubled, going from about 1.2 to 2.3 billion tons, with growth the most rapid in emerging and developing economies. This growth is driven by industrialization, urbanization and the rise of chemical-intensive sectors such as construction, agriculture and food processing, plastics, textiles, mining and electronics. This situation creates both opportunities and risks, given the hazards and dangers of many chemicals on the market and the lack of proper chemical and waste management frameworks in many countries (UNEP, 2019a).

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